Brainstem final explanation

January 11 / 2018

Stage: c) taking action

Approaches to learning: Transference skills

I enjoyed very much writing about this particular part of the brain.

BRAIN STEM: The brain stem is located at the base of the brain, above the spinal cord and below the cerebrum. It connects the cerebrum and the cerebellum with the spinal cord, which is the reason why it's white matter conducts nerve signals and controls the flow of messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It also holds three main structures; the midbrain, the pons and the medulla.

The midbrain, also known as the mesencephalon, is located above the other two regions of the brainstem, it also happens to be the smallest one of the three, and, it travels through an opening in the meninges. It serves as a relay center for visual, auditory and motor system information, one of the reasons why it plays such an important role in communication between the brain and the body, it also regulates autonomic functions such as digestion and heart rate.

The pons, is located right in the middle of the brainstem, between the midbrain and the medulla. It is involved in the transmission of signals to the brain and in the perception of the senses such as taste, and touch. It is also in charge of regulating breathing through a structure called the pneumotaxic center that controls the amount of air breathed and the rate at which the air is being breathed. Finally, it is in charge of deep sleep and of inhibiting urination through sending signals to the urethra and bladder in order for them not to expel urine.

The medulla, also known as the medulla oblongata is located at the bottom of the brainstem, it is responsible for controlling involuntary actions such as sneezing, coughing and vomiting, it also aids in the regulation of sustaining life functions such as breathing, swallowing and the rate at which the heart beats. Damage inflicted to the medulla is the hardest to fix due to it's involvement in all of the important functions the brain carries out.

Something very interesting about the brainstem is the fact that it is the most primitive area of the human brain, meaning that it has been around for quite some time. Also, 10 of the brain's 12 cranial nerves originate from the brain stem. Making it a very important and interesting portion of the brain.